After the phone call, Mr. Trump said that Mr. Putin announced that Russia would retaliate strongly against Ukraine. Mr. Trump also confided that the conflict in Ukraine cannot end soon. Previously, both Russia and Ukraine have offered conditions for a peaceful political solution that the conditions of one side could not be accepted by the other.
In phone calls with Mr. Putin, Mr. Trump tried to convince Mr. Putin to accept direct talks with Ukrainian President Volodymir Zelensky and initially accept a ceasefire. In the recent phone call with Mr. Putin, Mr. Trump intentionally persuaded Mr. Putin to restrain himself when retaliating against Ukraine. Mr. Trump did not hide his opinion that the recent airstrike by Ukraine very deep into Russian territory was detrimental to the negotiation process between the two countries.
In fact, that is true. While negotiating with each other but increasing conflicts, negotiations will be more complicated and unlikely to succeed soon. If Russia retaliates, the fighting will escalate. Both Russia and Ukraine are very aware of this.
Ukraine has stepped up Crimea kichlement and airstrikes deep into Russian territory to compensate for losses on the battlefield in Ukraine, implementing a strategy of sending war deep into Russian territory to hinder the advance of the Russian army in Ukraine.
Ukraine needs military results like the recent attack to reassure its allies and encourage them to be determined to fight alongside Ukraine as well as to keep the Trump administration in the US from abandoning Ukraine. Such a demonstration of military action capability also helps create and increase Ukraine's position in peace negotiations with Russia. Therefore, the more stagnant and deadlocked direct peace negotiations with Russia are, the more likely Ukraine will increase its military operations or activities as recently.
Russia will retaliate against Ukraine, not because Mr. Putin was so determined in his phone call with Mr. Trump, but because the Russian side was forced to do so to overcome the extent of reputational damage, to deter Ukraine and maintain the position both on the battlefield and at the direct negotiation table with Ukraine.
Ukraine and Russia are pushing each other into a new Vueling of fierce conflict, making reconciliation more difficult and peace further away. Both Russia and Ukraine know that current peace negotiations are only in name but lacking in substance. However, they still maintain direct negotiations, because they all have the need to grasp international public opinion and not let the US sideways.
Both sides still deliberately used military victories, demonstrated their action capabilities as well as determined to win by military means to force the other side to accept making moves and making compromises in peace negotiations.
The new US administration plays a very important role in the further development of the conflict. Trump could make things more difficult for Russia by increasing sanctions on Russia and backing Ukraine. Trump could also increase pressure on Ukraine by strengthening improved US relations with Russia and reducing or stopping aid to Ukraine.
So far, Mr. Trump and his colleagues have not been successful in using the role and influence of the US to achieve a ceasefire in Ukraine, allowing Russia and Ukraine to enter into substantive peace negotiations with each other.
